Burning the Old Year

Throughout “Burning the Old Year,” Nye discusses both the temporary and permanent qualities of daily life that carry across the calendar year. She describes the materials being burned as “flammable” (Line 6), or easily destroyed by fire. She also likens these articles to “moth wings” (Line 4), which are delicate and easily torn and damaged. Physically, she describes these items as letters, notes, lists of vegetables, and partial poems. However, all of these objects have abstract meaning tied to personal memory. Letters and notes from friends correspond to the conversations people have within their relationships. It’s interesting that the speaker burns these objects, because is belies an intentional destruction of memories associated with these relationships. Often, people hold onto letters and notes from loved ones as tokens of love and friendship. Yet here the speaker is intentionally turning these to ash. This can be interpreted that these correspondences were inconsequential, that they symbolize transient relationships, or that the speaker is undergoing a personal transformation during which she needs to be rid of such reminders.

Nye also notes that she burns lists of vegetables and partial poems, representing the destruction of communication with herself. Lists are written to keep people on track, or to remind them of various things.